Topic 4 - Biodiversity and Natural Resources

Question 1

Know that overtime the variety of life has become extensive but is now being threatened by human activity.

Answer 1

4.1

Question 2

Understand the terms biodiversity & endemism.

Answer 2

4.2 (i)

Question 3

Know how biodiversity can be measured within a habitat & within a species.

Answer 3

4.2 (ii)

Question 4

Understand the concept of niche and be able to discuss examples of adaptation of organisms to their environment (behavioural, physiological & anatomical).

Answer 4

4.3

Question 5

Understand how natural selection can lead to adaptation & evolution.

Answer 5

4.4

Question 6

Understand how the Hardy-Weinberg calculation can be used to see whether a change in allele frequency is occurring in a population over time.

Answer 6

4.5 (i)

Question 7

Understand that reproductive isolation can lead to accumulation of different genetic information in populations, potentially leading to the formation of new species.

Answer 7

4.5 (ii)

Question 8

Understand that classification is a means of organising the variety of life based on relationships between organisms using differences & similarities in phenotypes & in genotypes, & is built around the species concept.

Answer 8

4.6 (i)

Question 9

Understand the process & importance of critical evaluation of new data by the scientific community, which leads to new taxonomic groups, including the three domains of life based on molecular phylogeny, which are Bacteria, Archaea & Eukaryotes.

Answer 9

4.6 (ii)

Question 10

Know the ultrastructure of plant cells (cell walls, chloroplasts, amyloplasts, vacuole, tonoplasts, plasmodesmata, pits & middle lamella) and be able to compare it with animal cells.

Answer 10

4.7

Question 11

Be able to recognise the organelles in 4.7 from electron microscope (EM) images.

Answer 11

4.8

Question 12

Understand the structure & function of the polysaccharides starch & cellulose, including the role of hydrogen bonds between B-glucose molecules in the formation of cellulose microfibrils.

Answer 12

4.9

Question 13

Understand how the arrangement of cellulose microfibrils & secondary thickening in plant cell walls contributes to the physical properties of xylem vessels & sclerenchyma fibres in plant fibres that can be exploited by humans.

Answer 13

4.10

Question 14

Identify sclerenchyma fibres, phloem sieve tubes & xylem vessels & their location within stems through a light microscope.

Answer 14

core practical 6

Question 15

Know the similarities & differences between the structures, position in the stem & function of sclerenchyma fibres (support), xylem vessels (support & transport of water & mineral ions) and phloem (translocation of organic solutes).

Answer 15

4.11

Question 16

Understand the importance of water & inorganic ions (nitrate, calcium ions & magnesium ions) to plants.

Answer 16

4.12

Question 17

Investigate plant mineral deficiencies.

Answer 17

Core practical 7

Question 18

Determine the tensile strength of plant fibres.

Answer 18

Core Practical 8

Question 19

Understand the development of drug testing from historic to contemporary protocols, including William Withering’s digitalis soup, double blind trials, placebo & three-phased testing.

Answer 19

4.13

Question 20

Understand the conditions required for bacterial growth.

Answer 20

4.14

Question 21

Investigate the antimicrobial properties of plants, including aseptic techniques for the safe handling of bacteria.

Answer 21

Core practical 9

Question 22

Understand how the uses of plant fibres and starch may contribute to sustainability, including plant-based products to replace oil-based products.

Answer 22

4.15

Question 23

Be able to evaluate the methods used by zoos & seed banks in the conservation of endangered species & their genetic diversity, including scientific research, captive breeding programmes, reintroduction programmes & education.

Answer 23

4.16